| Although there are a number of specific differences between wireless networking methods, their purpose is the same: to connect multiple devices to each other without using physical cables. |
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| WLANs — also known as Wi-Fi &mdash have quickly become common in homes, offices, and retail businesses, such as coffee shops and restaurants. WWAN (wireless wide area networking) is provided by mobile operators and allows high-speed wireless connections in places where you may not be able to find Wi-Fi. Let's look at the key differences between these two ways to connect. |
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| A WLAN uses radio waves to network computers. Easy to install, they're usually created when a home or office sets up a wireless access point that allows mobile products, such as notebook PCs or handheld devices, to connect freely to the local network. Such "hotspots" are now common not only in coffee shops and cafes, but throughout airports and other public places. |
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| WWANs, like the name suggests, operate over much greater distances than WLANs. With a notebook PC containing a built-in broadband module (or external Mobile Broadband card) and service contract with a wireless carrier, you can connect to a WWAN essentially anywhere within your wireless carrier's coverage map (Sprint, Verizon Wireless, or AT&T in the U.S.), meaning you don't have to stay within a few dozen feet of a Wi-Fi hotspot to stay connected. Wireless WAN is part of an evolution in mobile technology — third-generation ("3G") networks — that have gained rapid acceptance worldwide. |
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| Mobile communication standards have evolved through "generations" in a short time period, and 3G (third-generation) standards have spread rapidly, offering mobile data communication rates that may soon rival wired networks. |
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| Early mobile phone networks could only support limited numbers of voice customers. As demand for wireless phones and then for wireless data increased, the operators of mobile networks upgraded their systems to provide a layered model of services, including wide-area data transfer. |
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| Overall, the term 3G refers to a wide set of technologies but can generally be defined as cellular phone networks capable of delivering high-speed (broadband) data over a wide area. |
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| Carriers first began adding data services to networks through a few "bridge" technologies, including GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) and EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution). Basically grafted onto existing 2G networks, they first enabled handsets to receive data at speeds usually associated with computers' dial-up modems (28 Kbps [kilobits per second] to 56 Kbps). |
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| Two separate technologies have arisen to fulfill true 3G speeds: HSDPA and EVDO. These are offered by wireless carriers to bring true broadband speeds greater than 1 Mbps (megabits per second) to mobile devices. The following table compares the most common Mobile Broadband connection technologies. |
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| Technology |
General Purpose |
Typical Throughput |
| EVDO |
Broadband replacement (3G) |
400 to 700 Kbps1 |
| HSDPA |
Broadband replacement (3G) |
400 Kbps to 1 Mbps1 |
| EDGE |
Stripped down; "bridge" technology between 2G and 3G |
75 to 135 Kbps2 |
| GPRS |
Stripped down; "bridge" technology between 2G and 3G |
56 to 114 Kbps3 |
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| Which mobile technologies are available to you depends on your service provider. HSDPA is based on the GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) standard that's used throughout the world for cellular communications. HSDPA Mobile Broadband technology provides a higher-quality signal than EVDO, but isn't as widely deployed. It's offered by GSM carriers such as AT&T Mobility. EVDO is based on the CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) technology used by carriers such as Verizon Wireless and Sprint. |
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| Gobi is a chipset technology developed by Qualcomm designed to provide built-in, high-speed, flexible cellular connectivity. Notebook computers with embedded Gobi technology can make 3G connections through leading mobile service providers within the United States and around the world, without the need for additional hardware and software. Unlike ordinary embedded broadband interfaces that require you to get service through a specific provider, unlocked Gobi technology lets you change wireless service providers to take advantage of coverage, or to allow connectivity when you travel internationally. |
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| Think of Gobi as a "software-defined radio" module that allows you to take advantage of 3G networks worldwide, leveraging your investment in your wireless PC and supporting improved productivity in more places. |
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| Find out more about Gobi at HP.com |
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| Later in this guide, you'll explore several products with built-in mobile broadband technology. |
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Next: Plan it |
